Revolving-piston rotary steam-engine.



, J. E. SAGKETT.

REVOLVING PISTON ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1011.

1 $322,265. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VEN T01? WITNESSES 8'; @M J-M' J 1% COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..WASHINOTON, D. c,

J. E. SACKETT.

REVOLVING PISTON ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 11017.13, 1911.

1 5022,2 65. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

40 a SHEETS-SHEET 2. y ommcoo (56 0'3 k 079 T Ii (97f WITNESSES NVENTOR MQSW' COLUMBIA PLANocnAvn co.. WASHINGTON. n. C.

UNITE JAMES E. SACKETT, OF MONTICELLO, NEW YORK.

REVOLVING-PISTON ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. atcnte(l Apr. 2,1912.

Application filed November 13, 1911. Serial No. 659,920.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES E. Sxcmrrr, citizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Sullivan and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Revolving-Piston Rotary Steam-Engines. of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to rotary steam engines, and more particularly rotary steam engines of the type characterized by two cylinders containing revolving pistons that are fixed to a common shaft: and it has for its object to provide a positive, speedy and powerfully operating rotary steam engine in which the steam pressure is utilized at the points of greatest leverage, and in which dead centers are avoided.

To the attainment of the said object the invention consists in the engine constructed in the peculiar and advantageous manner hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the claims appended.

In the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part hereof: Figure 1 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of my improved engine. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken through one of the cylinders in a plane at a right angle to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section showing one of the presser blocks hereinafter specifically referred to. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section illustrative of the steam passages and the means for controlling the same. Fig. 5 is a detail of the valve gear. Fig. (i is a detail view of one of the shaft bearings.

Similar numerals designate corresponding elements in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

1 is the engine bed on which are standards 2, and 3 is the shaft of the engine, which is. by preference, equipped at its ends with band pulleys 4. The shaft 3 is journaled in two bearings mounted on the standards 2. These bearings are similar in construction and therefore a detailed description of the one shown in Fig. 6 will suffice to impart a definite understanding of both. The bearing referred to comprises a base 5 bolted or otherwise fixed on the upper enlarged portion 6 of the standard and having upright flanges 7; a lower box section 8 having an underside 9 that is inclined slightly from the horizontal; an upper box section 10 hearing an aperture 11 for the connection of a lubricant reservoir 12 (see Fig. 1); vertical bolts 13 connecting the upper box section 19 with the standard portion 6 and extending through the base 5 and the lower box section S and equipped with lower and upper nuts 11: stay bolts 15 extending loosely through the flanges 7 and hearing at their inner ends against opposite ends of the lower box section 8, to retain the same in position, and equipped with jam-nuts 16, disposed at opposite sides of the flanges 7; and a tapered block 17 interposed between the base 5 and the box section 8 and having reduced and threaded end portions 18 extending loosely through the flanges 7 and equipped at opposite sides of the same with nuts 19. By loosening the nuts 19 and adjusting the block 17 in the direction of its length, wear can be expeditiously and easily taken up and the shaft 3 accurately positioned and maintained in proper position.

20. 20, are parallel cylinders that surround the shaft 3 and are provided with steam exhaust pipes 21, connected to a common pipe 22*, adapted to lead to a suitable point of discharge. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 1, the pistons in the cylinders 20 are disposed diametrically opposite each other, this in order to enable each piston to balance the other and assure easy and smooth running of the engine as well as prevent the engine getting on a dead center. lVith this exception the constructions in the cylinders are similar and therefore a detailed description of the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and at the right of Fig. 1 will sutlice to impart av definite understanding of both constructions. In the construction referred to the cylinder 20 is provided at the inner sides of its side walls with ring flanges 21 disposed eccentrically to the shaft 3. In the said ring flanges 21 are circumferentially grooved circular rings 22. These latter are revoluble about the shaft 3 and in the ring flanges 21.. 23 is a hub keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 3; 2 1. 24. and 25, spokes fixed to and extending radially from said hub; 25, a rim fixed to the spokes 24 and 25 having side packing strips 28: Fig. 1; and 29, 29, the rods through which the piston is moved radially outward and inward and caused at all times to bear against the circular wall of the cylinder. The said rods 29 are bolted or otherwise connected at their inner ends to the rings 22, and are connected at their outer ends to the piston 30, at the points 31. By virtue of the rods 29 being connected to the rings 22, and the said rings 22 being disposed in the r1ng flanges 21 fixed to the cylinder, it will be observed that incidental to the rotation of the piston about the shaft 3, the piston will be moved outward and inward; the ring flanges 21 being disposed eccentrically to the shaft as before described. It will also be observed by reference to the upper portion of Fig. 2 that the piston 30 is disposed and movable rectilinearly in a steam-tight box 32 in the outer portion of spoke 25, and that the piston is suitably packed, and is held against binding by a central rod 33 that is connected at 34 to the piston and is guided at 35 in the inner wall of the steamtight box 32. 7

40 is a pipe connected with an intermediate steam chest 41 and adapted to be connected with a source of steam supply (not shown):

42, 42 are front steam chests disposed at opposite sides of the forward portion of the chest 41 and connected therewith by ports 43. 44, 44 steam chests disposed at opposite sides of the rear portion of the chest 41 and connected therewith by ports 45.

46, 46 are cut-0H valves disposed in the chest 41 and between which is interposed a connection 47.

48 is a short stem connected with the connection 47.

49 is a shaft connected through a swivel 50 with the stem 48, and extending through a stufling lOOX in the front wall of the chest 41 and threaded through a fixed bearing 52 attached to said front wall.

53, 53 are front steam chambers connected through ports 54 with the chests 42 and through ports 55 with the interiors of the cylinders 20 in front of the presser blocks hereinafter referred to.

56, 56 are rear steam chambers connected through ports 57 with the rear steam chests 44, and through ports 58 with the interiors of the cylinders 20 at points in rear of the presser blocks.

59, 59 are vertically movable cut-off valves for controlling the front ports 54.

60, 60, are vertically movable cut-off valves for controlling the rear ports 57.

61, 61 are reversely-arranged eccentrics fixed on the shaft 3. 62, 62 are eccentric straps surrounding the said eccentrics, and 63, 63, Figs. 1 and 5, are vertically movable rods. The said rods 63 are similar in construction and therefore a detailed description of the one shown in Fig. 5 will suffice to impart a definite understanding of both. By reference to the said Fig. 5, it will be understood that the rod 63 shown therein is guided in a fixed bearing 64 and is pro vided with a loop 65 guided on the shaft 3; also, that the rod 63 is provided with a cross bar 66 which is connected through stems 67 with two valves 59 and 60. These valves 59 and 60 are the ones at the right of the intermediate steam chest 41 in Fig. 4, and it will be understood from this that the stems 67 on the left-hand rod 63 in Fig. 1 are connected with the valves 59 and 60 at the left hand side of the intermediate steam chest 41 in Fig. 4.

80, 80 are the presser blocks of the engine. These are disposed at opposite sides of the steam chests 41, 42 and 44 and each is arranged between a front steam chamber 53 and arear steam chamber 56, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The presser blocks 80 are similar in construction and hence a detailed description of the one shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will suiiice to impart a definite understanding of both. It will be seen by reference to said figures that the presser block has upwardly extending projections disposed in grooves in the wall above the block, and by reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the presser block has end projections disposed in grooves in the opposed casing walls, these projections being advantageous since by reason of the same the block is enabled to resist the pressure of steam from the opposite side. The presser block is a shell through which the steam escapes, and its side flanges covers two wings, on the sides. By reason of the presser block being employed it is necessary to provide but one cylinder head for two compartments of steam; the means hereinbefore described preventing the steam from entering at more than one side of the presser block at any one time.

With the cut-off valves 46 in the positions shown in Fig. 4 to close the ports 45, it will be seen that the steam supplied to the chest 41 will pass therefrom through the ports 43 into the side steam chests 42, and from the said side steam chests 42 the steam will pass through the ports 54 into the front steam chambers 53 at the times when said ports 54 are uncovered by the valves From the front steam chambers 53, the steam passes through the ports 55 into the cylinders 20 and therein acts against the pistons 30 to revolve the same in the direction indicated by arrowv in Fig. 2. I would here have it understood that the movements of the valves are so timed that when the valve 59 at the left of Fig. 4 is open to supply steam to the left-hand cylinder 20 through the left-hand port 55 and thereby revolve the piston 30 at the left of Fig. 1 forward- 2'. 0., in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 2, the valve 59 at the rightl1and side of the chest 41 will be in a position to close the right-hand port 54, this in order to en able the revoluble piston 30 at the right of Fig. 1 to pass the right-hand ports 55, 55 and 58; the port 55 being in the right-hand presser block 80. I would also have it here understood that when the valve 59 at the right of the chest 41 in Fig. 4 is open to permit the passage of steam to the righthand cylinder 20 and effect the revolution of the right-hand piston 20 in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 2, the left-hand valve 59 will close the adjacent port 54 to enable the left-hand piston 30 to pass the left-hand port 58, the port in the lefthand presser block 80 and the left-hand port 55. When each of the valves 59 is opened sufficiently to permit the passage of steam to its complementary port 55, the piston complementary to said valve and port will stand at about the position in Fig. 2, and then the steam becomes effective between the adjacent presser block 80 and the said piston to revolve the latter. The valves 46 may obviously be moved to positions in which said valves close all four ports 43, 43, and 45, 45, in which case the supply of steam to the cylinders 20 is entirely cut off. Then when the said valves 46 are quickly moved forward to close the ports and open the ports 45, the engine will be reversed; the valves 60 then operating in the manner hereinbefore ascribed to the valves 59. After the pistons 30 pass the presser blocks 80, the steam back of the pistons exhausts through the presser blocks, the chambers 8O above be same, and the pipes 21 and 22*.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a rotary steam engine, the combination of a suitably supported shaft, parallel cylinders surrounding said shaft, flanged rings fixed to the inner sides of the side walls of the cylinders and arranged eccentrically to the shaft, wheels fixed to the shaft and arranged in the cylinders and having diametrically-opposite steam-tight boxes, radially movable, revoluble pistons disposed in said boxes and having inwardly extending rods, circular rings connected to said rods and arranged and movable in the said ring flanges, steam exhaust conduits communicating with the cylinders, openframe presser blocks arranged in the cylinders and registered with said conduits, an intermediate steam chest located between the cylinders and having forward ports and rear ports in its side walls, a conduit for supplying steam to said chest, forward and rear side steam chests arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate chest and communicating with the forward ports and rear ports, respectively, thereof, forward steam chambers arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate and forward, side steam chests and connected through ports with the latter and also connected through ports with the interiors of the cylinders at points in front of the presser blocks, rear steam chambers arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate and rear, side steam chests and connected through ports with the latter and also connected through ports with the interiors of the cylinders at points in rear of the presser blocks, cut-oft valves located in the intermediate steam chest and adapted to control the ports in the side walls thereof, means for moving said cut-off valves, valves disposed in the forward and rear side steam chests and adapted to control the ports between the same and the forward and rear steam chambers, reversely arranged eccentrics located between the cylinders and fixed to the shafts, eccentric straps surrounding said eccentrics, reciprocatory rods connected with said eccentric straps and carrying cross-bars, and stems carried by said crossbars and connected to the last-named valves.

2. In a rotary steam engine, the combination of a suitably supported shaft, cylinders surrounding said shaft, wheels fixed to the shaft and. arranged in the cylinders and having diametrically-opposite steam-tight boxes, radially movable, revoluble pistons disposed in said boxes, means for projecting and retracting said pistons incidental to the revolutions thereof, steam exhaust conduits communicating with the cylinders, openframe presser blocks arranged in the cylinders and registered with said conduits, an intermediate steam chest located between the cylinders and having forward ports and rear ports in its side walls, a conduit for supplying steam to said chest, forward and rear, side steam chests arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate chest and communicating with the forward ports and rear ports, respectively, thereof, forward steam chambers arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate and forward, side steam chests and connected through ports with the latter and also connected through ports with the interiors of the cylinders at points in front of the presser blocks, rear, steam chambers arranged at opposite sides of the intermediate and rear, side steam chests and connected through ports with the latter and also connected through ports with the interiors of the cylinders at points in rear of the presser blocks, cut-off means located in the intermediate steam chest and adapted to control the ports in the side walls thereof, valves for controlling the ports between the side steam chests and the forward and rear steam chambers, and driving connections intermediate the shaft and said valves.

In a rotary steam engine, the combination of a suitably supported shaft, cylinders surrounding the same, revolublc and radially movable pistons disposed in the cylinders and connected with the shaft and arranged diametrically opposite each other,

means for projecting and retracting the pistons incidental to the revolutions thereof,

steam exhaust conduits connected with the cylinders, open-frame resser blocks arranged in the cylinders and registered with said conduits, a steam chest located between the cylinders and connected with the interiors thereof in front and rear of the presser blocks, valves operated by the shaft for controlling communication bet-ween the chest and the cylinders, and manually operated means in the chest for reversing the engine.

4:. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a revoluble and radially movable piston therein, an open-frame presser'block arranged in the'cylinder, means for supplying the cylinder with steam in front and rear of said block, and an exhaust conduit connected with the cylinder and registered with said block.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. SAGKETT.

Vitnesses 7M. B. McMILLEN, VALLANOE SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

